Stove structure



Dec. 15, 193 1. ER 1,836,782

STOVE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. TELLER STOVE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 14} 1930- Dec. 15, 1931 3 Shasta-Shut 4 Ya; 1/L..u

1/27/11 \\\n I lg. Will/2211474 fix wag? De c. l5, 1931. J. TELLER STOVE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 14. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 a Q 6 W4 1/444 Jacob @Zler.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v JACOB TELLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TELLER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS STOVE STRUCTURE Application filed February 14, 1930. Serial No. 428,256.

My invention relates to stove structures and particularly to an improved decorative system therefor.

Modern tendency in the manufacture of stove structures hasbeen to eliminate as much as'possible the necessity for blackening or polishing parts of the stove and lessen the labors of the housewife, and has also been to produce more decorative effect so that the stove structure would harmonize more with the surrounding furniture and decorations.

In the manufacture of stoves, as for example kitchen ranges in which the fuel is coal,

oil, or-gas, the structure comprises a front frame for supporting the various doors and other closure members. -Originally these front frames have been in the form of castings and later they were constructed of steel. Originally the frame and the closure elements supported thereon were kept clean and in condition by the application of blackening or polish thereto. Later, improved porcelain and enamcling processes eliminated in a greater part the necessity for blackening, but the decorative range for such enameling was limited to solid colors and was quite expensive on account of the weight of these front frames and the labor incident to enameling thereof. If the enameling contained cracks or discolorations, or it chipped off, it was necessary to remove the entire front frame for reenameling.

The next step toward decorative effect was the application of panels to the doors and closure members on the stove front. These panels were usually in the form of light castings or sheet metal and were porcelain enameled, but they occupied only the central portions of the doors and closure members, the surrounding frames of the doors and the surrounding parts of the front frame being left bare, and these exposed surfaces had to be kept clean by polishing, or were plated or 5 enameled. This procedure therefore only partially solved the problem as it was just as expensive to enamel or otherwise decorate the unpancled parts of the stove structure front as it was to paint or enamel the entire front, and such painting or enameling was restricted to solid colors with little chance for decorative effects.

In order to acquire some decorative effects where only parts of the stove front were covered by paneling, the frame casting or structure wasitself made of ornamental design but this required more metal and heavier fronts. sometimes also the unpaneled surfaces of the stove front were nickel plated but this was an expensive procedure and also required labor to keep it clean and bright. Where the stove front is cast or formed to ornamental contour or configuration, or is plated, a certain amount of finishing work is also required.

v In general, the important object of my invention is to provide a decorative scheme or system in which the stove front frame itself disappears entirely as a factor in the ornamental appearance of the front elevation of a stove structure, and in which the entire decoration or decorative" effect is produced by decorated panels supported by and entirely covering the stove front frame so that it becomes unnecessary to polish, finish or decorate any part of the front frame itself, such decorative panels or units being preferably of light. sheet metal construction, so that they may be readily decorated as by enameling, painting, spraying, stencili-ng or otherwise.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the dimensions and weight of stove structure fronts to a minimum and to be sufiicient only to provide the necessary strength for supporting the various doors and closure members, and arranged for the reception and support of the decorative shells built up by the pre-decorated panels or dec0- ration units.

A further object is to shape the panels or decoration. units so that they will readily .interfit and cooperate to form a continuous decorative shell for entirely covering the stove structure front frame.

Still another object is to standardize the front. frame for a line of stove structures and to correspondingly standardize the shapes and sizes of panels or decoration units so that these decoration units may be interchange- 65 20has a panel 23 applied thereto with its ably applied to the front of a line of stove structures in order that, with a comparatively small number of decoration units or panels, a variety of decorative assemblies may be provided for the stove front, and thereby acquiring a wide range of ornamental effects which is impossible of attainment with prior structures except by very expensive methods and means.

Another object is to carry this same scheme of ornamentation to the accessory parts of stove structures as for example the splash walls, closets, or special oven or heating compartments, and to so design the decorative units or panels that there may be a wide field of interchangeability.

Referring tothe drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a stove to which my invention is applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective elevation of the stove structure front frame;

Figure 3 is a section on plane IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective elevation showing particularly the arrangement at the corner of the stove structure;

is a section on plane IVIV of Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal section showing a modified arrangement at the Figure 9 is an enlarged section on line IX- IX of Figure 7.

The construction shown in Figure 1 would be typical of that of a square coal range with high closets. The main front frame 10, best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, is in the form of an integral casting with the main oven opening 11 therein, and at the left side is the firing opening 12 and the ash pit opening 13 below it.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, the front along its top has the head or rib 14 for engaging behind the depending flange 15 alon the front of the stove top structure 16. long its side edges the front 10 has the vertical recesses 17 and 18 respectively, and surrounding the oven opening 11 is the rectangular recess 19 for accommodating the oven door frame 20. The stove front 10 rests on a base 21supported by legs 22.

Describing now the decorative structure,

this comprises panels applied to the stove front to enclose and cover the entire outer surface thereof. p These panels are preferably of sheet metal and are readily accurately formed in suitable dies, and before application to the stove front they are decorated as by painting, enameling, stenciling, spraying, or otherwise. As shown,-the oven door frame 1,ese,7sa

top and side flanges extending along the top and sides respectivel of the door frame, the bottom flange of the panel engaging the bottom of the door frame and having a deflection or ears 24 at its inner end for engaging against the back side of the door frame to thus lock the panel at its lower end to the frame. Screws 25 threading into the door frame may be employed for securing the top or side flanges of the panel to the frame. The door is provided'with suitable hinges 26 for permitting downward swing thereof into open position. The front of the oven door is thus entirely covered by a decorative outer shell or panel.

The stove front, directly above and below the oven door, is covered by panels 27 and 28 respectively. The panel 27 has the upstanding flange 29 along its top for insertion between the rib 14 on the front- 10 and the flange 15 of the stove t0p,- as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Extending from the lower edge of the panel 27 is the right angular flange 30 for seating in the upper horizontal section of the recess 19 for the oven door, and the panel may be secured 'in this recess by means of a number of screws 31. The ends of the panel are closed by flanges 32 as shown in Figure 5.

The panel 28 has alon its upper edge the right angular flange 33 for engaging in the lower horizontal section .of the recess 19 for the'oven door and this flange maybe secured by means of screws or bolts 34. Along its lower edge the panel 28 has the right angular flange 35 whose horizpntal section extends along the bottom of the stove front 10 and whose inner vertical section extends into a recess or groove '36 formed in the top of the right angular flange 38 which also extends into the-groove 36 in the base top, while at its lower edge the panel has the right angular flange 39 extending around the lower edge of the base so that the panel 37 is securely held in position.

Between the right ends of the panels 27 and 28 and the adjacent side edge of the stove front, and in alignment with the right edge of the oven door, is the vertical panel 40. At 1ts upper end this panel has the angular flange 41 for insertion between the rib 14 and the flange 15 of the stove top, while at its lower end the panel has the angular flange 42 for insertion into the groove 36 at the end of the base 21.

Along its inner side the panel 40 has the deflected or angular flange 43 for fitting and engaging in the recess 19 for the oven door, as best shownin Figures 3 and 5, while along its outer edge the panel has the right angular flange 44 for engaging and seating in the recess18 of the stove front. As shown in Figure 5, the side wall 45 of the stove structure, which side may be in the form of a panel, has the right angular flange 46 along its front edge for engaging and seating in the stove front recess 18 in overlapping engagement with the flange 44 of the panel 40. Over these overlapping flanges a corner panel 47 is applied and this panel may also be formed of-sheet metal with its exposed face decorated. At its upper end this corner panel has the flange or ear 48 for engaging behind the depending flange 15 of the stove top, while at its lower end the corner panel has the flange or ear 49 for extending into the groove 36 at the corner of the base 21, the corner panel being thus rigidly held in position and serving to clamp the flanges 44 and 46 and so securely hold the panel and the side wall in accurate position along the corner of the stove.

Along the left side of the stove front and the oven door 20 the spaces 12 and 13 are covered by an ornamental door 50, this door extending from the stove top to the stove base as clearly shown in Figure 1. The door may be hinged by means of suitable trunnion pins 51 engaging in the stove top and base respectively. An ornamental panel 52 coverg the front of the door to which it is secured by side flanges engaging around the respective edges of the door. To the stove front section between the spaces 12 and 13 and the recess 17 along the left side of the front is applied a vertical panel 53 which is secured at its upper and lower ends in the same manner as is secured the panel 40, that is, by engaging below the flange 15 of the stove top and in the groove 36 of the base. Along its outer edge the panel has the right angular flange 54 engaging and seating in the recess 17 in which it is locked by the corner panel 55 which, like the counter panel 47 engages at its upper and lower ends behind the stove front flange 15 and in the groove 36 of the base.

The various panels on the stove front and base are all in lateral abutment and entirely cover the outer face of the stove front 10. In the particular arrangement shown the front or ornamental faces of the panels all lie in a common vertical plane although it is evident that the panels may be convex or concave, or beveled, or given any other formation depending upon the ornamental effect desired. The main feature is the entire covering or enclosing of the outer surface of the stove front with units in the form of panels which have been decorated before application to the front, thus eliminating any finishing,polishing. or decorating directly upon the stove front. The doors are provided with ornamental handles 56 and these handles will assist in holding the panel structures to the door frames.

The stove structure shown in Figure 1 has the vertical brackets or posts 57 for supporting suitable closet structures 58 having door frames to which decorated panels 59 are applied, and these panels preferably entirely cover the front of the closet framework and doors. Between these closets and the stove to the brackets support a splash wall 60 w ich may also be in the forinof a decorated panel.

In Figure 6 is shown a modified arrangement for eliminating the corner panels along the side edges of the stove front. Instead of using corner panels like the corner panels 47 shown in Figure 5, the vertical panels 61 and the adjacent stove side wall 62 could be interlocked by means of a slip joint or seam 63 which would be received in the recesses of the stove front, as for example in the recess 18 as shown in Figure 6.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 I show another modified arrangement which does not require corner panels and in which the panels applied form air spaces for heat insulation. In this arrangement the stove front 64 may be in the form of a light casting and has along its top the forwardly extending flange 65 4 on which rests the front of the stove top 66. The casting has the oven door opening 67 for which the door frame 68 is provided, this frame being covered by a decorative panel 69. The door engages against the outer face of the front 64, and between the top of the door and the top of the front is applied the decorative panel 70 having side flanges so that the front of the panel is separated from the stove front 64 by an air space 71. The upper side flange of the panel has the vertical extension 72 for insertion behind lugs 73 formed on the underside of the flange 65, and the lower side flange of the panel has the vertical extension 74 which seats against the front of the casting 64 and is secured as by means of screws or bolts 75.

To the front frame 64 below the oven door is applied the decorative panel 76 havingside flanges which space the panel from the front to leave the air space 77. The upper side flange of the panel has the extension 78 which seats against the front frame and is secured as by means of screws or bolts 79. The lower side flange of the panel has the vertical extension 80 which extends into and is clamped in the space between the stove front and the vertical flange or head 81 on the top of the base frame 82. This base frame is covered by a decorative panel 83 which along its upper edge hooks around the head 81 to be clamped between the bead and the stove front, while the lower flange 84 of the panel extends below the base to be secured by screws or bolts 85 Between the left side of the oven door and the side of the stove front is the opening 86 for access to the fire box and ash pit of the stove, the ordinary inner or firing door '87 being provided at the upper end of the space. The entire space is covered by a door 88 which has applied to its front the decorative panel 89. This door extends between the left side of the oven door and the left corner of the stove front and may be hinged by suitable trunnion pins 90 extending into the flange at the top of the stove front 64: and into the base 82 respectively. A heat baffle plate 91 may be applied to the inner side of the frame of the door 88 to thus leave an insulating air space 92 in the door structure. Likewise, the oven door frame 68 may have applied to its inner side a heat baflie plate 93 which with the decorative door panel forms aninsulating air space.

Between the right side of the oven door and the right corner of the stove front is applied a decorated panel 94 secured by an inner angular flange 95 to the stove front 64 and secured by its outer flange 96 along the outer edge of the stove front in common with the stove structure side wall 97, the front of the panel being spaced from the stove front frame to leave the insulating air space 98.

In this arrangement, as in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 5, the entire outer side of the stove front frame is covered by decorative panel units and the outer faces of these panel units may be in a connnon vertical plane as shown,

It will be noted that all the decorating units or panels are constructed so that, after they have been properly decorated, they may be applied in their respective positions without requiring any bending or distortion which would injure or destroy the decorative material, as for example, porcelain enamel. All the panels may be readily and easily inserted into position to be automatically locked in place or to receive screws or bolts at their flanges.

Where the stove structure comprises a water reservoir 99, such reservoir would be covered by a panel 100 which would entirely cover the reservoir supporting framework and whose decoration.v would harmonize with the decoration of the panels on the stove front frame.

In accordance with my invention, a complete line of stoves would have the same front frame structure so that a set of panels of standard size would fit all the fronts. For example, in a line of coal ranges, the dimen sions of the front frames would be such that the oven doors and the fire box and ash pit doors would all be of the same size so that one size of panel would suflice for all the oven doors and another panel size would suffice for all the fire box and ash pit doors. Likewise, the paneling sections surrounding these doors would be the same for all the stove fr0nts.- With this arrangement, a manufacturer,-dealer, or distributor would have a number of sets of panels of different ornamentations which he could readily apply as desired to the various stoves of a line, and he could remove the panels from one stove and apply them to another. In case a panel becomes defective or injured, it can be readily replaced by a new one of the same decorative arrangement. A dealer can thus purchase a whole line of stoves with Undecorated front frames, and from his stock of decorated panels he can apply panels to the front frames to obtain the decorative effect he may desire.

Where porcelain enamel panels are used, the decorated stove has the effect of a full porcelain front stove. If desired, brass, bronze, nickel plated, or other panel units may be used instead of the enameled panels, or a combination could be used, depending upon the decorative effect desired.

My invention may be embodied in other specific forms besides those shown without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, and I do not limit myself in the application of the invention except as indicated by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a stove structure, the combination with the stove front frame having openings therethrough, door frames for said openings, a single flat sheet-metal panel entirely covering the front of each door frame and having side flanges receiving the side edges of the door frame, and other flat sheet-metal panel sections applied to the stove front frame to engage laterally with said door frame panels toform a continuous sheet metal facing for. and entirely concealing said stove front frame from edge to edge thereof, the front faces of said panels being in a common plane.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

JACOB TELLER. 

